A roundup of figure news from the past few days, including a Dark Sakura figure from Solid Theater, a Nanoha figure from Goodsmile, the Niθ / Kotobukiya figure collaboration project in color, a Maaryan / Sasara combination from Taki Corporation, reissues of FREEing’s bunny girl Nagato and Tsuruya-san, and new Otomedius and Bemani prize figures from Konami.
Akiba Blog posted a column on the 2nd from the folks at Solid Theater scooping the production of a Dark Sakura PVC from Fate / stay night. The sculpt is from Toda Satoshi of Yume no Kagutsuchi no Koukoku. More information will be available at Wonder Festival on the 24th.
Following up on a scoop from Hobby Japan a few months ago, the official Kotobukiya blog has posted color pictures of the Niθ / Kotobukiya collaboration figure “Airu” being produced for the Plamo wo Tsukurou! CUSTOM TV show. The figure will be on display at Wonder Festival, along with release details, hopefully.
Word is in from the official Goodsmile blog that they’re planning to produce a Nanoha (19 year old ver.) PVC figure from Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha. Further details regarding the release are expected to appear on the blog within the next few days.
Taki Corporation has announced the next two figures in its To Heart 2 series, Maaryan-senpai and Kusugawa Sasara. They’re based on the jacket illustration of the third volume of the To Heart 2 OVA, and each is fully castoffable; they’re both expected to retail in late March at 9,240 yen retail and ~1/7 scale (Maaryan is 20 cm tall, with Sasara at 25 cm).
Word is in from Goodsmile that FREEing’s Nagato Yuki and Tsuruya-san bunny girl PVCs will both be reissued come this May. This should provide an opportunity for those who missed their first release round to pick them up; many stores have listed them as available for preorder again already.
Finally, Konami has product pages up for two new prize figure sets: Beatmania IIDX vol. 3 and Otomedius vol. 2, both based on Konami arcade game properties (rhythm game Beatmania IIDX and shoot-’em-up Otomedius respectively). The latter is designed by Yoshizaki Mine and has become a popular subject for doujinshi in the past few months; it seems likely we can expect more figure action from the franchise in the future. Release information for both prize sets is currently unknown, but should be made available soon.
Well now! I’ll be keeping close watch on the preorder scene for the Dark Sakura one! ^_^
The Nanoha one looks cute, and the re-releases of the Yuki/Tsuruya are something I hope I can get it on (having Haruhi and Kyon’s Sister already) with preorders or whatever – hopefully they’re coming in larger amounts! ^^
hmm…HMMmm…..I kinda like the Sakura figure, kinda don’t. I’ll need to see more pics to make a better judgement lol
WOOT!!! NANOHA :3
I will be keeping a close eye on her.
Dark Sakura has very strange face and eyes ^^; I wait for more pics to decide to buy or not.
PS : I saw the other pic on the link, I like the face ^^ I’ll buy her :D
I’m diggin’ the Airu and the Dark Sakura. The Otomedius character in the yellow outfit looks pretty nice too. I like it when Mine Yoshizaki does the ‘fuller’ characters, and puts some additional detail in the work. It’s hard to imagine the same guy that does the quintessential ‘fast manga’ art for Sgt. Frog is actually a really good artist when he wants to be, but yet it’s true.
I’m diggin’ the Airu and the Dark Sakura. The Otomedius character in the yellow outfit if pretty nice too.
Reissues for bunny girl Nagato Yuki, good. Awaiting much-desired price drop.
Hmm. I’ve resisted Nanoha (19) figures in the past, but this one looks to good to pass up.
Now I need a good Fate and Hayate one… ^_^
Wow! I’m liking the Dark Sakura and the Airu! The Dark Sakura will go nicely with the Dark Saber pre-viewed here a few months (?) ago. And the Airu looks really cool, like the pose and the face- I’m a sucker for a top heavy cute cat girl.
Airu fits right in with the Queens blade collection i have going. I’m considering it. Maaryan-senpai and Kusugawa Sasara don’t work alone but together they’re a must for me.
Also, More Queens Blade MEGAHOUSE!!!!
I’m going to second what Anonymous said up there, but the color scheme on Airu is off-putting to me. Great sculpt, though.
i will get the Tsuruya, been waiting for a re-release. the Dark Sakura and Airu are must looking like good, hope they’re at least 1/7.
As always, Thanks for the scoop Shingo. 8)
Just placed a pre-order for Freeing Tsuruya as soon as I saw it. No more missing out on this one. Now, only hoping for a Freeing Bunny Mikuru re-release. 8)
>>Work_Ethic
Both Dark Saber and Dark Sakura are sculpted by the same person.
And I too agree that Airu looks great. (Definitely love the uber-cool airbrush she’s holding, not forgetting her melons as well. 8))
p.s. PRAYING VERY HARD that she will be top castoffable… ;)
As for Taki’s pair – great concept (total castoffability), poor execution. (bad face sculpt, specifically, the eyes are off.) Makes them look wierd.
p.s. Actually, the same could be said for Dark Sakura as well. (as compare with the more pleasing faces of Airu, the 2 bunnies and the 4 prize figures)
Still, I might just get Taki’s Sasara just for being totally castoffable. (I’m still disappointed that Movic’s Sasara maid was wearing a bra under her blouse…)
Update: Never mind. I just found out Freeing’s Bunny Mikuru was re-released in Sept 2007
I missed it again. 8(
Oh well, c’est la vie. 8)
blacklotus
http://www.hobbyfan.com/product_info.php?products_id=5905&name=&title=The+Melancholy+of+Haruhi+Suzumiya%3A+Mikuru+Asahina+Red+Bunny+Ver.+1%2F4+Scale+PVC+Figure+-+FREEing
I’m a nice guy when I guanine want to be you better jump on it before you have to fly for it.
Much Thanks Banner.
Unfortunately, it’s one of those sites that won’t accept my credit card.
And no, they didn’t provide any reasons. 8/
Nevermind. C’est la vie. Consider it S$200 saved for other upcoming figures instead. (e.g. Griffon’s S$250 QB completed figures.) 8)